Best Wifi Card [T61]

[hoax32]

I currently have a 9465AGN in my system but I want to get the most out of RANGE and WIRELESS N.
Im also running Middletons Bios.
What would be a decent upgrade?
MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS RANGE!!!!
I have 3 Antenna cables in my T61. [1 added later on manually]
I really need a better range! [for hotspots]
Although 300MBPS sounds good, 450MBPS sounds even better for ADHOC/Local Networking.
Anny suggestions?
I was looking at the Intel 5300 but it seems like it's already multiple YEARS old.
Im shure there must be some newer hardware out there with better range.
any suggestions?

[JeffCullen]

I've used the Intel 4965AGN, 5300, and 6300 in my T61p. The 5300 and 6300 kill the 4965AGN in weak-signal performance. I didn't find much difference between the 5300 and 6300, and I had stability issues when pegging the 6300, so I'm happily using the 5300. I have extensive experience playing around with these three both at home (mainly with a WNDR3700v2 and E4200v1), as well as when wearing my Meru engineer hat at work, with big manly industrial-strength access points.

I should mention -- I used to "see" more networks available with the 4965AGN, but if I managed to hook up to one, they'd be near unusable. Generally with the 5300, if I can "see" something, I can use it.

I am thoroughly satisfied with the 5300. Use the latest drivers.

[Oro]

If one were to buy a 5300 card, what is the best way to go? Looking around sources, there seem to be about four options online from Ebay and other vendors:

1) New one from china (OEM or a copy)?
2) Pulled from later model Lenovo
3) Pulled from other Dell/HP/etc.
4) NOS from HP purchases.

To my mind, 2 and 3 sound a bit less dodgy. Between them is there a reason a non-lenovo oem board-sourced card would not work? Or is #1 actually a safer way to go? Or does the middleton BIOS allow you to not worry about the non-Lenovo origin?

[Radioguy]

Atheros consistently beats Intel on range and sensitivity in Wi-Fi. I suggest you look at recent Atheros cards, both from Lenovo ("ThinkPad" brand cards) and unbranded.